Untitled

A JAPANESE DRY GOODS STORE. 251
CHAPTER IX.
A JAPANESE DRY-GOODS STORE.
" The rain descends steadily. Only the umbrella men and the frogs feel cheerful.
In the ninth month, every dry day can be taken for a holiday."
continual rain is dreadful," said Sallie, one morning, as
-L she ruefully regarded the
"
downpour. I do not believe
we have had twenty-four hours' sunshine since we returned
home."
"Oh, I like it! " said Fitz. "I have written to all my old
schoolfellows, and have studied very hard. I think the
weather is just splendid."
"
Don't tease so, Fitz Jewett," retorted the girl.
"
I want
to go down to the Dai Maru and buy some crepe cotton, as a
present for Cho. This wexather is very annoying. You know
you
dislike it as much as I do."
"What is the Dai Maru?" bluntly demanded the boy.
"
I thought every child in the empire knew that celebrated
Gofuka-ya (dry-goods store). It is the Stewart's of Tokio."
"The weather will clear presently," said Johnnie, entering.
:?
Why do you annoy Sallie so, Fitz?"
"I do not annoy you, do I? " said the boy. "Now, as soon
as breakfast is over, I will order our jin-riki-sha and will
accompany you anywhere. I know a store in Uyeno where
you can buy beautiful things."
" I will go, too," remarked Johnnie.
The lad proved to be a reliable weather prophet, for, by the
time the meal was over, the rain had ceased and the sun was
shining brightly.